As a child of the 50's, I had few "heros" I admired and drew from them, what I can clearly say that shaped my life. My father, my maternal grandfather, John Wayne, and Richard Boone. The latter two, I'd met with and spoken to at the premiere of the Alamo in 1960. Shaking hands with both was beyond amazing. They were very gracious to me, and the Duke pointed out my mother and sister standing near. He asked me where my father was. I told him he was on duty, as a peace officer, and couldn't attend. He said that was an honorable profession. He asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I told him that I wanted to be a professional soldier, and a peace officer like my father. John Wayne said this "Well son, if you want to do those things, mind your folks. Study hard. And never turn your back to anyone that needs your help. I believe that you'll do well." Richard Boone nodded his approval, and said "That's sound advice. I think you'll do just fine." I was ten years old then. Now sixty three years later, I'm now long retired, but I was a Ranger in the Army serving three tours in Vietnam, and retired peace officer with 28 years service. Both of them, John Wayne and Richard Boone, had such an impact on my life, as did my father and my grandfather. I couldn't have had better role models....

@AWordonWesterns

11 ай бұрын

Thank you, Ranger, for your comments and your service. You sure picked a couple of good ones.

@markmathews-ts9on

11 ай бұрын

I'm jealous of you both. I've had two heroes in my life, my father, who was a child of the Depression and Korean war vet who saw heavy action, and Duke Wayne. Duke Wayne was the only actor I've ever really wanted to meet . I'm also a big fan of Patrick Wayne, loved him in ' The People That Time Forgot ' and 'Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger.' Also thank you for your service and sacrifice.

@toinimoore3463

11 ай бұрын

You had a Great Child hood I doubt that you were spoiled brat can tell by your manners and my parents had me watching Have Gun Will Travel I never how to play chess but I always loved that horse piece and I enjoy helping people and I joined odd fellow and Rebah lodge that helps So Many today I am 70 now and 😊

for being in his 80's Patrick Wayne looks much younger. I would rather watch a John Wayne movie for the 150th time then 99% of the new stuff

John Wayne is still world renowned as an actor. In Australia his movies are still played all the time on the tv. He is an international Phenomenon just like Elvis and will always be remembered.

Susan Hayward was a beautiful woman!!!!

John Wayne would be so proud of the foundation and it's great work. Patrick always gives an interesting interview and you are a congenial host. Always look forward to the Sunday show.

@AWordonWesterns

11 ай бұрын

Thanks, Joan. We aim to please.

Pat is right, John Wayne's name has just as much resonance today, if not more. I'm admittedly from decades after Duke's time yet he's one of my all-time favorite actors and icons now. Great to see Pat speaking about his legendary father. It's very cool how many classic movies he was in with his father. I especially liked him in McLintock! Great performance from Pat in that. McLintock! has always felt like a slapstick sequel to Red River to me, another one of John's greatest performances and two of my favorite movies ever. Thanks again Rob for the interview and thanks for everything you've done for the Western genre as a whole. The legends of this great genre of cinematic history deserve to be remembered.

@AWordonWesterns

11 ай бұрын

So many good ones, Azo. I always show McLINTOCK! to introduce younger viewers to Duke. It works every time. Thanks.

Such a great interview Rob. Thank you Patrick Wayne for taking the time to pose for a picture with me during one of my visits to Ft Worth Museum. Hope to see you again soon

Visited the John Wayne American experience museum last month . Wonderful time. Thanks Rob ! Thanks Pat !

Thank you for fixing the sound. Great episode. One of the best.

@AWordonWesterns

11 ай бұрын

You bet. sorry it took so long.

Another great interview, Rob, with a nice little history of film too. I have watched both "The Conqueror" and "Jet Pilot." Though they are not great movies, they are not bad either. Another John Wayne movie that was not a western film that I liked was about the first (diplomatic) minister to Japan. (I cannot remember the title. I will look it up and post it later.) It is always nice to heard from Patrick Wayne, especially stories about him and his father. 👍👍

@AWordonWesterns

11 ай бұрын

BARBARIAN AND THE GEISHA Directed by John Huston is the title you're looking for.

I hope Patrick is doing well, he's got so many memories to share with us

Patrick looks great! I hope he lives a long time. Yes, no bigger stars than Clark Gable, Cary Grant Jimmy Stewart and John Wayne! But John may be the biggest. He is still a heroe to so many. Interview Johns kids more often, please! Thanks, Rob!

THE CONQUEROR "hastened" the death of many a star and crew member on this miserable box-office bomb! But of course as Rob and Patrick Wayne explain in detail, the whole production was a radioactive bomb... certainly most of the cast and crew like everywhere else were heavy smokers, and Wayne and his friends enjoyed their drinking, but when you look at that very high percentage of cancer deaths on the picture, you have to conclude that radiation was the catalyst for so many on the picture. It is known that director Dick Powell protested the locations chosen because of the recent nuclear testing and radioactivity, but producer and RKO owner Howard Hughes, and star John Wayne both goaded him into shooting there. The fallout winds carried the radioactive dust clear across to Illinois, hastening the deaths of thousands who became known as the "downwinders" as I wrote a long article on this for the BFI... Here is just part of that article- The approximately 100,000 people who lived in the three-state fallout zone north and east of the testing site are more likely to have been affected than the Hollywood visitors. For years they inhaled contaminated dust and ingested contaminated food and milk. In the early 1960s, multiple cases of childhood leukemia and adult cancers began to appear, a shocking novelty because Mormons, who shun alcohol and tobacco, typically have low cancer rates. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1984 compared those in the fallout area with other Mormons and found leukemia levels five times higher. Government denials about any cancer-causing fallout unraveled in the 1980's, when lawsuits uncovered internal AEC reports showing scientists and bureaucrats downplayed and distorted evidence. Congress passed the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act in 1990, establishing a fund for Down-winders with cancer and serious illnesses apparently linked to above-ground nuclear weapons testing. Compensation is capped at $50,000 per person. The fund has disbursed about $2 billion and is set to continue until first-generation Down-winders have died out. Their children and grandchildren, regardless of any health problems, are excluded. The Radiation Exposure Screening and Education Program (RESP), has eight clinics in the region. They diagnose and advise about treatment, which is free if you qualify. The clinic in St George, a bright, modern facility, has received an average of 140 new patients every year for the past five years. Barlow, the nurse practitioner, and Carolyn Rasmussen, a counselor and case manager, hear recollections of watching sunburst explosions, sweeping ash from porches and watching relatives die. A People magazine article in 1980 reported that no bombs were tested during the filming, but the article quoted Robert Pendleton, director of radiological health at the University of Utah, saying radioactivity from previous blasts probably lodged in Snow Canyon. It also attributed an immortal quote to a scientist from the Pentagon’s defense nuclear agency: “Please, God, don’t let us have killed John Wayne.” The biggest and saddest irony, is that America’s biggest icon John Wayne… Was probably killed by the very country he loved!

@AWordonWesterns

11 ай бұрын

Wow, Graham. Thank you for all of the details. It's an amazing, and very tragic, story.

@grahamhill6340

11 ай бұрын

@@AWordonWesterns I wrote a lot more details Rob... But here's a strange irony- On May 19, 1953, the Atomic Energy Commission set off "Shot Harry," or more accurately "Dirty Harry" as it became known, a 32 kiloton nuclear device about 100 miles away from St. George. The bomb was one of 126 test fired on the Nevada range from 1951 to 1963. Unfortunately for Cedar City and St. George residents, the winds were particularly bad for this test. What no officials admitted was that St. George had been pummeled by 1,230 times the permissible fallout level and had stayed that way for an alarming 16 days! And as you probably know, John Wayne was the first star to turn down the role of detective Dirty Harry, which of course made Clint Eastwood a superstar. Duke totally disliked Eastwood, especially when it became a huge hit. Thank goodness Rob, you never visited THE CONQUEROR set, the Duke's worst movie coming out in the same 1956 year as his best... THE SEARCHERS!

@gerrydooley951

11 ай бұрын

Something similar happened in Chatsworth in 1959, a nuclear meltdown which was kept very quiet. I believe the area is owned now by Boeing and they are refusing to do any more clean-up. Lawsuits ensue and there have been many, many cases of cancer in the neighborhood near there

What a great video. I agree with you, Rob about John Wayne being the best ever. I just love that you had Patrick with you to make this an even more touching video. I so miss John Wayne and I watch a John Wayne film at least a couple times each week. I do have to say that The Conqueror is not one of my favorites, and I believe it took someone with the fame and stature of The Duke to survive that film. I love the stories Patrick shared with us about the TV in the motel room, having to drive The Duke’s station wagon home, and all he shared with us. I thank you so much, Rob, for this video and especially with Patrick joining you.

Enjoyed again Rob

@AWordonWesterns

11 ай бұрын

Thanks, John

This really is a great interview, Rob. Very enlightening, and informing with the Behind the Scenes, on the Duke's classic film, "The Conqueror." This will certainly put St. George, Utah back on the map of infamy.

@AWordonWesterns

11 ай бұрын

Thanks, OD. We'd had a technical problem with one of the audio tracks earlier so RJ fixed it and we reposted. Whew!!

@OdeeOz

11 ай бұрын

@@AWordonWesterns egads the Tech troubles we never had before. :O Well done fix RJ!

Big fan of Patrick Wayne - thank you for sharing ...

@AWordonWesterns

11 ай бұрын

Me too, Bill. Thanks!

I remember watching this film years and years ago The good old days

I am a very big fan of John Wayne and John Wayne is a legend for ever .

Thank you Rob. Love it when Patrick Wayne is on. I can't wait for the next AWOW !! I always look forward to these

@AWordonWesterns

11 ай бұрын

Thanks, Gary. Enjoy and share.

Patrick must have a million stories about his dad. Maybe he can share more another time.

Great interview,love to hear these stories.1979 was the same year my dad died and Lee Van Cleef died 10 years later of a heart attack but also had throat cancer. Never heard if that was connected to the filming in Utah.

Thanks for sharing this great interview with Patrick Wayne. Love the stories I hear from your guests!

JOHN WAYNE WAS AND IS MY HERO LOVED THE MAN SO MISSED 🥰💜🙏

Great interview again, Rob....love hearing Patrick talk about his Dad and his career,...sad that all those famous and non-famouse died during that production,...I still have not ever seen "The Conquerer", it's never played and plus I couldn't see Duke outside of a western picture....(Brannigan?).

@AWordonWesterns

11 ай бұрын

Thanks, Stephen. Duke made quite a few non-western and non-war films that I like. TROUBLE ALONG THE WAY, WITHOUT RESERVATIONS, PITTSBURGH and, of course, THE QUIET MAN. You'll be OK without ever watching THE CONQUEROR. Although, it does have some merit.

Great interview. I love John Wayne’s movies and have passed the love of his artistry to both of my sons. And I have fond memories of a double feature matinee back in late-70s of Patrick Wayne in Ray Harryhausen’s Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger and fighting dinosaurs in AIP’s The People That Time Forgot. I miss those afternoons of popcorn, Pepsi and Sno-Caps, and laughing with my brother. Thank you Patrick, and thank you Rob.

Here I thought it was a more depth look at The Conqueror than this mornings episode. When you said sound problem, I went I didn't hear any problem, then I realized you meant the inserts from the movie and it's trailer. I just thought that was to try and beat fair use rules. So this one's for the algorithm. John Wayne never need a hype person but if he had to have one, he couldn't have a better one than his son Patrick. Patrick who was a pretty good actor in his own right, can tell a tale. Your conversation was both enlightening and fun. As I said this morning, maybe there was a little foreshadowing in the movies trailer about how Titanic the film was in scope and action. The ship named Titanic was also large in scope, and it had a tragic ending on it's maiden voyage. So many of this films cast and crew also had tragic endings, that may have been a direct result of the films shooting location. When one thinks of John Wayne films, The Conqueror is not one the first films that comes to mind. However once you get over the fact that John Wayne looks weird, I didn't think it was that bad a film. I learned more about Genghis Khan from the film, than what the school taught about Genghis Khan and his mongol hordes conquering half of the know world. It sparked an interest in knowing more about the real man. I liked the film overall. Not quite the same as this mornings, but I think I covered most of what I wrote previously.

@AWordonWesterns

11 ай бұрын

Good job, Jim. Thanks for both!!

Terrific interview!

This episode deserves a 2nd airing.

@AWordonWesterns

11 ай бұрын

Go for it, rich!

Great Interview.....

Wonderful interview And enjoyable! Who would know someone better than their son?!. Wish you could get PD Whitney to talk about his dad ,William Whitney and his marvelous work in films and television westerns !

@AWordonWesterns

11 ай бұрын

Thanks, Julie. I’ve got an interview with JD Witney and Cheryl Rogers about his Dad that we shot in Lone Pine that’s in our Videos. I think you’ll like it.

My wife and I will be in the DFW area next week and we’ll probably pick up my sister in Arlington and visit the John Wayne Experience in Fort Worth. Another great interview Rob. 👍🏻

good stuff, Rob!

It's a shame that all those people got sick over that shoot. The Conqueror was one of the worst films the Duke ever did. I did enjoy seeing Patrick again.

Never seen this movie, i saw jet pilot in the movie theater, thanks lord Rob Word of Word on Westerns laird of Word manor your friend tom now and always and Patrick Wayne, i Will never forget his role in the alamo 1960 My favorite movie, young and daring

I don't doubt that the exposure was harmful to all, but John Wayne was a chain smoker for most of his life. I remember when he was the spokesman for Camel cigarettes on both TV magazines and billboards etc. Though not sure, it was said he continued to smoke even after one of his lungs were removed. Seems like common sense to me. Interesting subject Rob. Who knows? 👍👍👍

Great interview ❤

@AWordonWesterns

9 ай бұрын

Thanks, Don

I've probably written this before but I just can't get over the fact that my step-dad was Patrick's instructor pilot; doing currency checks on his reserve days.

@AWordonWesterns

11 ай бұрын

Very cool, Kyle

we were just at the john wayne museum in ft worth.. my mom lives there.. doc johnny italy

Fantastic interview with Patrick! We just got home from a little 4 day vacation to Ft. Robinson located by Crawford, Nebraska. You would love Ft. Robinson, Rob, with all the beautiful Buttes. It was where Chief Red Cloud signed the peace treaty in 1875 before it became a war in 1876. Also, Crazy Horse was killed there trying to escape from the stockade.

@AWordonWesterns

11 ай бұрын

Sounds awesome, Greg. I've never been there. Gotta go!

@gregdavis19

11 ай бұрын

@@AWordonWesterns you’ll need to! They have rooms and houses available to stay in. The rooms are in the brick 1909 barracks and the homes are officers quarters. They rent the houses out according to the size of your party. Parties start at 6. Don’t expect a 2,3,4,or 5 star hotel,lol. We stayed in the old barracks. We were on the go all the time. We drove down to Scottsbluff and saw Chimney Rock one day. Ft. Robinson is 2 hours away from the Blackhills in South Dakota. I hope you can make it one day.

I would love to meet Duke’s children to discuss their father with them ❤

Nice, thanks for sharing!

@AWordonWesterns

11 ай бұрын

You bet, Fox. Thanks.

I quote his character from rustlers rhapsody several times a year. "Im a lawyer, I can wear whatever color I want."

Really tough to imagine John Wayne portraying this character.

The only known survivor of this movie is Barrie Chase, who played a dancer in that movie. That scene was probably filmed in a studio.

@AWordonWesterns

11 ай бұрын

That sounds reasonable to me, Elaine. Makes sense. Thanks.

@troynov1965

11 ай бұрын

They actually took tons of sand from there back to Hollywood for the outside studio shots . Poor actors and other workers were in it non stop.

I believe I read that Patrick Wayne also developed cancer, after being on that set.

Everyone John Wayne Susan Hayward Pedro Armendiaz even Producer Dick Powell all died of cancer🤔🤔

14:02 I respectfully disagree with Patrick on this. If he had went to the Naval Academy that would have been his most likely route to the Presidency, especially given the time frame. The USC football route was at best a dead-end route to a State Senator or the movie profession which who knows how that would have ended. JMHO.

I knew mudslide scene was filmed outside of Tombstone...I think a few blocks past birdcage theater...anybody know for sure?

❤

for a living I was kind of Groucho like for a while - I didn't know the connection when I 1st saw the movie (I rented the Conqueror), but many reviewers I read then called it the kind of Role that could kill a career even if you were John Wayne.... sorry :(

I thought it was Rio Lobo that was the "killer".

I’ve already seen the video.

@AWordonWesterns

11 ай бұрын

It was posted at our regular 6AM PST but had a technical problem, sequences with no audio. We fixed and remixed the episode and replaced it with this corrected one this afternoon.

I wish he had never made that horrible movie He made huge mistake making this movie!

i liked a lot of wayne pics but i doubt he was the world's biggest star.silent star charlie chaplin was hugely popular, so much so that other countries had copies such as charles aplin.

John Wayne is one of the few people that I remember exactly where I was when I heard he had died

Great Cowboy's I wish Pat would make a western